US6540572B2 - Propulsion system for motor boats - Google Patents

Propulsion system for motor boats Download PDF

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Publication number
US6540572B2
US6540572B2 US09/767,941 US76794101A US6540572B2 US 6540572 B2 US6540572 B2 US 6540572B2 US 76794101 A US76794101 A US 76794101A US 6540572 B2 US6540572 B2 US 6540572B2
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
propulsion system
motor unit
support member
propeller
hull
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US09/767,941
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English (en)
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US20020127928A1 (en
Inventor
Fabio Buzzi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
FB Design SRL
ZF Marine Arco SpA
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FB Design SRL
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Assigned to FB DESIGN S.R.L. reassignment FB DESIGN S.R.L. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BUZZI, FABIO
Publication of US20020127928A1 publication Critical patent/US20020127928A1/en
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Assigned to ZF MARINE ARCO SPA reassignment ZF MARINE ARCO SPA ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FB DESIGN SL
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
    • B63H21/00—Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels
    • B63H21/30—Mounting of propulsion plant or unit, e.g. for anti-vibration purposes
    • B63H21/305—Mounting of propulsion plant or unit, e.g. for anti-vibration purposes with passive vibration damping
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B3/00—Hulls characterised by their structure or component parts
    • B63B3/14—Hull parts
    • B63B3/42—Shaft brackets
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
    • B63H23/00—Transmitting power from propulsion power plant to propulsive elements
    • B63H23/32—Other parts
    • B63H23/321—Bearings or seals specially adapted for propeller shafts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
    • B63H5/00—Arrangements on vessels of propulsion elements directly acting on water
    • B63H5/07—Arrangements on vessels of propulsion elements directly acting on water of propellers
    • B63H5/125—Arrangements on vessels of propulsion elements directly acting on water of propellers movably mounted with respect to hull, e.g. adjustable in direction, e.g. podded azimuthing thrusters
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
    • B63H1/00—Propulsive elements directly acting on water
    • B63H1/02—Propulsive elements directly acting on water of rotary type
    • B63H1/12—Propulsive elements directly acting on water of rotary type with rotation axis substantially in propulsive direction
    • B63H1/14—Propellers
    • B63H1/18—Propellers with means for diminishing cavitation, e.g. supercavitation
    • B63H2001/185—Surfacing propellers, i.e. propellers specially adapted for operation at the water surface, with blades incompletely submerged, or piercing the water surface from above in the course of each revolution

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns a propulsion system for motor boats and, in particular, a so-called “V-drive” type propulsion system.
  • the driving shaft exits from the motor unit towards the bow of the hull and is connected, directly or indirectly, to a reversing gearbox or inverter. From the latter thus exits the propeller shaft of the propeller, obviously turned towards the stern of the hull.
  • the kinematic chain is basically aligned in sequence from the motor unit until the propeller.
  • An example of these more conventional propulsion systems is described in the Italian patent application no. MI96A-001151 and in the corresponding patent publications no. U.S. Pat. No. 5.944.569 and no. EP-A-811551.
  • the V-drive type systems have various advantages, among which is the setting back of the motor unit weight and the possibility of reducing the propeller axis inclination.
  • propulsion systems of this type give particular problems during the assembly stage, especially in obtaining the correct alignment between the motor unit and the rest of the propulsion system, i.e. the reversing gearbox and propeller shaft.
  • the task of the present invention is to provide a V-drive type propulsion system that obviates the drawbacks of the known technique.
  • one object of the present invention is to provide a propulsion system for motor boats that finally solves the alignment problems between the motor unit and the remaining part of the propulsion system.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a propulsion system for motor boats that simplifies the assembly operations of same propulsion system on the hull.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a propulsion system for motor boats that also allows the particularly simple and quick variation in the axis inclination of the propeller with respect to the hull bottom.
  • a propulsion system for motor boats of the type comprising at least one motor unit, at least one reversing gearbox connected to the shaft existing from the motor unit, at least one propeller shaft to transmit the movement from the reversing gearbox to the propeller of the system, and at least one support member for the propeller shaft to be fixed to the hull bottom near the propeller, characterized in that it comprises means to mechanically connect together the at least one motor unit and the support member for the propeller shaft.
  • the propulsion system is of “V-drive” type and, even more preferably, the reversing gearbox is integral with the motor unit.
  • the reversing gearbox is integral with the motor unit.
  • the means of mechanical connection include at least one portion of the support member that protrudes inside the hull.
  • the means of mechanical connection can also include one or more devices for the support of the motor unit.
  • the propulsion system includes one or more devices that allow adjustment of the propeller shaft inclination with respect to the bottom of the motor boat on which it is assembled.
  • the propulsion system includes one or more devices that allow adjustment of the propeller shaft inclination with respect to the bottom of the motor boat on which it is assembled.
  • the means for mechanically connecting together the motor unit and the support member for the propeller shaft include one or more hydraulic actuators.
  • the transmission is made “frimmable”, according to the nautical terminology used for speedboats, i.e. the trim assumed by the propeller axis with respect to the water surface, may be adjusted.
  • FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section view of the stern portion of a motor boat equipped with a known immersed propeller propulsion system of the “V-drive” type;
  • FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section view of the stern portion of another motor boat equipped with a known surface propeller propulsion system of the “V-drive” type;
  • FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section view of the stern portion of a motor boat equipped with a propulsion system according to a possible embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section view of the stern portion of a motor boat equipped with a propulsion system according to another possible embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section view of a portion of the propulsion system illustrated in FIG. 4;
  • FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section view of the stern portion of a motor boat designed to receive a propulsion system according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section view of the stern portion of a motor boat equipped with a propulsion system according to an additional possible embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 show propulsion systems of known “V-drive” type installed on motor boats that make use of two different propulsion principles.
  • the bottom of the hull of FIG. 1 is made for an immersed propeller propulsion system, in which the propeller 10 is housed in a tunnel 5 radiused to the bottom profile to decrease the draft of the same propeller and limit the hydrodynamic resistance caused by the final transmission section, i.e. by the propeller shaft 3 and the support member 8 .
  • FIG. 2 The bottom of FIG. 2 is made instead for a surface propeller propulsion system, in which the propeller 20 is only partially immersed, while the propeller shaft 6 and the support member 8 for the same are located above the water surface 1 .
  • this solution allows a reduction in the resistance due to friction of the appendices, in addition to limiting the inclination of the axis of the propeller 20 with respect to the water surface with consequent advantages from the point of view of efficiency.
  • the known “V-drive” type systems shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 basically include a motor unit 30 and a reversing gearbox 40 , integrally assembled with the motor unit 30 , that allows the reversal of boat running with respect to the advancement direction indicated by arrows A.
  • the propeller shaft 6 exits from the reversing gearbox 40 that is supported, near the propeller 10 or 20 , by a support member 8 fixed to the bottom of the hull.
  • V-drive type propulsion system Only a V-drive type propulsion system according to the present invention will be illustrated hereinafter for simplicity, with reference mainly to an embodiment with surface propeller, like that shown in FIG. 2, but it is evident that the same propulsion system could also be applied to the boats designed for propulsion with immersed propeller.
  • FIG. 3 A possible embodiment of the V-drive type propulsion system, according to the present invention, is illustrated in the enlarged view of FIG. 3, where the mechanical connection is clearly visible between the motor unit 30 and support member 50 made by means of a portion 51 that penetrates inside the hull 60 .
  • a shaped bracket 55 is connected to portion 51 , or made integral with the same, onto which the motor unit 30 is fixed at its front attachments 35 (rear with respect to the orientation of the hull) by means of known type fixing devices.
  • the support member 50 is fixed to the hull 60 at its plate portion by means of known fixing devices 56 , e.g. screws or bolts joined with respective nuts.
  • a closed mechanical “ring” or “mechanical loop” is formed, including the motor unit 30 , the reversing gearbox 40 , the propeller shaft 6 and the support member 50 , that avoids any alignment errors. Indeed, the correct alignment is ensured during the design stage and is, above all, independent of the hull.
  • FIG. 4 shows another possible embodiment of the “V-drive” type propulsion system according to the present invention, which advantageously envisages some devices that allows variation of the axis inclination of the propeller with respect to the hull.
  • the reversing gearbox 40 is supported, at the crossing wall of the hull, by means of a device 80 similar to that described in the above-cited Italian Patent application no. MI96A-001151.
  • the device 80 represented in more detail in the enlarged view of FIG. 5, includes in particular two elastic rings 81 and 82 , for example of the “O-ring” type, that ensure the necessary seal within small variations in inclination of the rotation axis 120 of the propeller 20 around a pivoting axis 84 (perpendicular to FIGS. 4 and 5 ).
  • the support member 70 for the propeller shaft 6 may, in turn, include a device that allows the adjustment of the inclination of the propeller shaft, like that described for instance in the European Patent application no. EP-A-450507.
  • the support member 70 includes a foot portion 72 connected in adjustable way to a portion 73 that has a plate for attachment to the hull.
  • the adjustment set is maintained by tightening the bolts 74 .
  • the portion 73 fixed to the hull 60 includes, in turn, a portion 71 that penetrates inside the hull and a bracket portion 75 , connected to the portion 71 or integral with it, on which are fixed the attachments 35 of the motor unit 30 .
  • the adjustment means 77 that allow the variation in the distance between the motor attachments 35 and the bracket 75 .
  • the means 77 may be of adjustable screw type, or could include simple spacing elements of various sizes to be interposed between the bracket 75 and the attachments 35 of the motor unit 30 .
  • the adjustment of the inclination of the axis 120 of the propeller 20 is thus extremely simple. For this purpose, it is sufficient to act on the adjustment means 77 , obviously after having loosened the bolts 74 , to obtain rotation of the motor unit 30 , of the reversing gearbox 40 and the propeller shaft 6 around the pivoting axis 84 without having to worry about the alignment problems. After adjustment, the desired inclination is maintained simply by tightening bolts 74 again.
  • FIG. 6 shows a hull 60 designed to house a propulsion system according to the present invention.
  • the hull 60 made for instance by an injection moulding process, could already have, during the injection moulding stage, a hole 67 for the passage of the portion 51 (or 71 ) of the support member, as well as a hole 68 for the support of the reversing gearbox 40 and the exit of the propeller shaft 6 , without having to worry about alignment problems during the installation of the propulsion system.
  • the alignment is in fact already guaranteed during the planning of the propulsion system, according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 7 An additional possible embodiment of the “V-drive” type propulsion system according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 7 .
  • the mechanical connection means between the motor unit 30 and support member 92 of the propeller shaft 6 include one or more hydraulic actuators 90 , for instance of double effect type, controlled by a pump 98 .
  • the stem 95 of the hydraulic actuator illustrated in FIG. 7 is connected, at one of its ends, to the support member 92 of the propeller shaft 6 while, at the opposite end, the stem 95 of the hydraulic actuator 90 is connected to support devices 97 , fixed or adjustable, on which rests an attachment 35 of the motor unit 30 .
  • the reversing gearbox 40 is supported, at the crossing wall of bottom 60 , by means of a device 80 (the same represented in more detail in FIG. 5) that maintains the seal also in the event of small variations in inclination of the propeller shaft 6 .
  • the propulsion system is thus made “trimmable”, i.e. adjustable, also during the running due to the hydraulic actuators 90 that allow the entire propulsion system to rotate, arranged according to a single “closed ring” integral structure, around the axis 84 .

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Connection Of Motors, Electrical Generators, Mechanical Devices, And The Like (AREA)
  • Control Of Electric Motors In General (AREA)
  • Reciprocating, Oscillating Or Vibrating Motors (AREA)
  • Motor Power Transmission Devices (AREA)
  • Structure Of Transmissions (AREA)
US09/767,941 2000-08-23 2001-01-24 Propulsion system for motor boats Expired - Lifetime US6540572B2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITMI2000A001899 2000-08-23
ITMI00A1899 2000-08-23
IT2000MI001899A IT1318775B1 (it) 2000-08-23 2000-08-23 Sistema di propulsione per scafi a motore

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20020127928A1 US20020127928A1 (en) 2002-09-12
US6540572B2 true US6540572B2 (en) 2003-04-01

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/767,941 Expired - Lifetime US6540572B2 (en) 2000-08-23 2001-01-24 Propulsion system for motor boats

Country Status (4)

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US (1) US6540572B2 (de)
EP (1) EP1182132B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE555008T1 (de)
IT (1) IT1318775B1 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7431620B1 (en) 2006-05-24 2008-10-07 Harley Howard D Articulating surface drive
US9346525B2 (en) 2012-04-23 2016-05-24 Zf Friedrichshafen Ag Ship drive

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE524504C2 (sv) * 2002-05-03 2004-08-17 Volvo Penta Ab Båtskrov med utombordsdrev samt utombordsdrev för båtar
US7294031B1 (en) 2005-10-21 2007-11-13 Brunswick Corporation Marine drive grommet seal
US8011983B1 (en) 2008-01-07 2011-09-06 Brunswick Corporation Marine drive with break-away mount
IT1402739B1 (it) * 2010-10-15 2013-09-18 Giacomo De Supporto per elica di unita' navigante
US9809289B2 (en) 2013-08-15 2017-11-07 Blue Sky Marine, LLC Hull mounted, steerable marine drive with trim actuation
US9266593B2 (en) 2013-08-15 2016-02-23 Blue Sky Marine, LLC Hull mounted, steerable marine drive with trim actuation
CN104816783A (zh) * 2015-04-30 2015-08-05 中国船舶重工集团公司第七○二研究所 基于多桨船双臂支架模型空泡优化技术的支架定位方法
CN109126151A (zh) * 2017-06-15 2019-01-04 汕头市添翊模型科技有限公司 一种模型船传动部件的结构及其使用方法

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2022652A (en) * 1932-09-30 1935-12-03 Emery H Fahrney Inboard power unit
US2856883A (en) * 1955-07-20 1958-10-21 Baker John Gordon Boat with adjustable propeller shaft
US3175530A (en) * 1961-02-09 1965-03-30 Knut Goran Knutsson Propelling system for boats
US3469558A (en) * 1967-10-25 1969-09-30 Mario J Puretic Marine propulsion unit
EP0296797A1 (de) * 1987-06-22 1988-12-28 Sabre Engines Limited Motorboot
EP0450507A1 (de) 1990-04-06 1991-10-09 Fabio Buzzi Vorrichtung zum Regeln des Winkels einer Propellerwelle bezüglich der Wasseroberfläche
EP0811551A2 (de) 1996-06-06 1997-12-10 Fabio Buzzi Vereinfachtes Antriebssystem mit darin integriertem Propellerantrieb

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2022652A (en) * 1932-09-30 1935-12-03 Emery H Fahrney Inboard power unit
US2856883A (en) * 1955-07-20 1958-10-21 Baker John Gordon Boat with adjustable propeller shaft
US3175530A (en) * 1961-02-09 1965-03-30 Knut Goran Knutsson Propelling system for boats
US3469558A (en) * 1967-10-25 1969-09-30 Mario J Puretic Marine propulsion unit
EP0296797A1 (de) * 1987-06-22 1988-12-28 Sabre Engines Limited Motorboot
EP0450507A1 (de) 1990-04-06 1991-10-09 Fabio Buzzi Vorrichtung zum Regeln des Winkels einer Propellerwelle bezüglich der Wasseroberfläche
EP0811551A2 (de) 1996-06-06 1997-12-10 Fabio Buzzi Vereinfachtes Antriebssystem mit darin integriertem Propellerantrieb
US5944569A (en) 1996-06-06 1999-08-31 Buzzi; Fabio Simplified propelling system with drive integral to each other

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7431620B1 (en) 2006-05-24 2008-10-07 Harley Howard D Articulating surface drive
US9346525B2 (en) 2012-04-23 2016-05-24 Zf Friedrichshafen Ag Ship drive
AU2013251997B2 (en) * 2012-04-23 2016-11-17 Zf Friedrichshafen Ag Ship drive
EP2841337B1 (de) * 2012-04-23 2017-10-18 ZF Friedrichshafen AG Schiffsantrieb

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20020127928A1 (en) 2002-09-12
IT1318775B1 (it) 2003-09-10
ITMI20001899A0 (it) 2000-08-23
ITMI20001899A1 (it) 2002-02-23
ATE555008T1 (de) 2012-05-15
EP1182132A3 (de) 2003-07-23
EP1182132B1 (de) 2012-04-25
EP1182132A2 (de) 2002-02-27

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